How important is it for a kitten to have its injections if it is a house cat and wont go outside?

Question

If a breeder is selling pedigree cats with no inhections is it ok to leave it if you are not going to be letting the cat out, or should you still get the injections done yourself? Also are there any implications of having them done at 13/14 weeks instesad of the usual 9 weeks?

Answer 1

Some diseases walk in on your shoes. So yes do it.

Answer 2

Its essential. All cats and dogs should be wormed, de flead and vaccinated by a vet regularly, especially before breeding.
All kittens and pups are born with a few worms, even with regular worming. Regular worming just keeps the numbers right down, it rarely eliminates them completely, as they can be re-infected tha week after worming.
Fleas transmit tapeworm eggs into the bloodstream when they feed.
Babies need tha antibodies from their mother, both via the placental blood and her milk. Even with that, their immunity begins to decrease at 6-8 weeks.
Thats why the vaccines are timed for that age.
You will carry the viruses in on your hands, clothes and shoes; so if you don't complete the vaccination program you are running the risk of your pet catching a preventable but incurable disease.
There is absolutely no excuse for a breeder to neglect this basic healthcare, especially since they are making money from their animals and tend to keep more in a confined space.
Cat flu can rip through a colony in a matter of weeks, and anyone who believes otherwise might care to volunteer at a shelter for a while to see the potential consequenses.
Please ignore what this breeder has told you and insist on seeing veterinary worming and vaccination papers before buying a pedigree kitten, you are paying for that extra care, not just the pedigree.

Answer 3

I have 2 indoor cats. I always get the first injections but do not continue on. I think it is more of a personal choice really. I do not have purebreds though so I'm not sure if that would make a difference or not. My parents had an outdoor cat and did the vaccines for about 3 years and then stopped... The cat lived to be 15 years old...

Answer 4

It really is important to keep up the vaccinations.
Even though your cats are indoor ones, so are mine, you can carry the diseases in on your shoes, also, vaccinations are a must if you ever have to board your pets for any reason.
Pure bred or moggy, makes no difference, they are all cats.........

The only problem with having it done at 13 to 14 weeks instead of earlier, is that the cat has been at greater risk for that time.
I have an older cat that I acquired, after being abandoned by her "owners" and considering the family she came from I just KNOW she'd never been vaccinated.
So she started having her injections at about 10 years.....No after effects at all.......

After reading other answers, I must add that I know nothing about the Rabies injection, or whether it can make your cat sick, as we don't have rabies in Australia (thank goodness).....

Answer 5

Veterinarians have learned that the vaccines we use to protect cats from infectious diseases occasionally cause cancer. New guidelines suggest giving only the most important immunizations, no more often than necessary.

Cats that never go outdoors do not usually need leukemia or FIP immunization. Test every cat in the household for leukemia and FIV so we do not have to worry that they will catch these diseases from each other.

Rabies
Because it protects people from a disease that is highly fatal and frequently diagnosed in local skunks, rabies is the most important immunization for cats and dogs. All cats need rabies shots.

Feline Bordatella
Bordatella is mostly a problem where cats are kept together in an enclosed area. We do not recommend Bordatella vaccinations for cats


Leukemia
Experts disagree about the effectiveness of leukemia vaccine and about how frequently it should be given. Recently published guidelines recommend annual revaccination of all cats with potential exposure.
Distemper
Distemper vaccination protects against panleukopenia (FPV), feline calicivirus (FCV), and feline herpesvirus 1 (FHV-1). Panleukopenia is rapidly fatal.
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)
FIV is similar to HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) in that it attacks the body's immune system, eventually making the patient unable to deal with common infections.

I didn't see anything about what time to give them the shots. It said normally at early kittenhood but I would think that better later than never. I would get the shots that are most recommended cause diseases can be carried in from outdoors.

Answer 6

It is very important to have it done. Never is so uncertain. You can't predict with certainty that the cat will never go outside. Unforeseen events happen. Take the necessary precautions now to avoid the repercussions later. Have the cat vaccinated, de-wormed, etc. It can become ill a number of ways and not all illnesses have to be contracted out doors. Viruses and bacteria can be airborne or they can linger in your home. Mice carry disease, one could easily get into your home. Fleas can be a common problem for indoor cats as well. Be good to your kitty and take care of it on schedule.

Answer 7

All 4 of my cats had their first rounds of "kitten" injections, now all they get as adults is Rabies.

It is a common concern that injections will make and animal sick, and they can. My decision was more out of their behavior on the injections than off of them. They are much more affectionate when they are off the meds.

BUT you are running a risk. Your pet may become sick and even DIE from the illnesses the shots MAY prevent. You need to ask yourself, and yout cats vet, if its a risk you're willing to take on your cats behalf.

check here, they have vets on staff you can ask.

www.purinacatchow.com

Answer 8

you should NEVER pay a cent for a cat without its first set of shots

this breeder is NOT ethical - by avoiding giving the kitten any shots they are avoiding it being seen (and therefore checked) by a vet - so it could have any number of other problems (heart lungs etc)

I would NEVER NEVER pay a cent to anyone "selling" unvaccinated cats... it costs a breeder VERY LITTLE to get shots for a litter of kittens

I always make sure kittens get FULLY VACCINATED even if they are going to be indoor only - some cat diseases can be spread from the bottom of your shoes.. however I dont think they need to be boostered yearly like outdoor cats

Answer 9

We have had cats who have never been "Injected", they never came down with anything. We also found out that most vets will tall you your animal NEEDS vaccination just so as they get more money coming in. My dog, rustie, cost me £1800 at Dunbars veterenary Clinic in Bournemouth for work don e on him, we then took him to the "free" animal place/vet/hospital for a check up on something else, the vet there was horrified at how much Dunbar charged for an op he would have charged £450 for. We also have Guinea pigs, one vet here in Wareham charged my partner £120 for a check up on the pig, usual costs elsewheree £25. Are some vets conmen? Yes, very much so.

Answer 10

Breeder should not be selling cats that have not had injections in the first place,but yes it is important!

Answer 11

As a breeder they should be doing themselves. Pedigree cats are more prone to infections, irrespective of whether they are inside or not - you may bring contaminants in from outside...